Laila Edwards watched the Olympic hockey final on television when she was just ten years old. Team USA battled Canada for the gold medal. That moment sparked a dream inside her. Now, at twenty-one years old, Edwards is preparing to skate for the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. She is making history.
Breaking Barriers on the Ice
Laila Edwards has achieved a monumental first. She is the inaugural Black woman ever chosen for the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team. In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE magazine, Edwards opened up about her incredible journey. She described the powerful feelings that drive her on the ice.
"I think I just get an adrenaline rush every single game," Edwards revealed. "I hate losing more than I love winning." This competitive fire has fueled her rise to the Olympic stage.
A Dream Forged in Childhood
The seed for this Olympic dream was planted in 2014. A young Laila Edwards sat glued to the screen during the Winter Olympics in Sochi. She watched the U.S. women's hockey team face off against Canada. That was the instant she knew her future.
"Since age 10, I had dreams of playing for Team USA in the Olympics," she told PEOPLE. At that time, she could not have imagined the historic path ahead.
Her selection for the 2026 roster follows years of relentless dedication. It is a testament to family support and unwavering self-belief. Edwards will soon wear the Team USA jersey she once only fantasized about.
Embracing a Historic Role
In 2024, Laila Edwards broke new ground by becoming the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women's senior national hockey team. Just one year later, she secured her place on the Olympic team. After a standout season with the national squad, she felt her moment approaching.
"I knew it was a matter of time," she said confidently.
With this historic title comes significant responsibility. Edwards reflected on her reaction to the news.
"I was like, 'Wow, I could take this one of two ways: shy away from it, or try to make a difference,'" she explained to PEOPLE.
Representation holds profound meaning for her. "It means everything. I think representation is so important, and role models are important too. So to be that potential role model for someone, it means the world to me," Edwards stated with heartfelt conviction.
From Fan to Teammate
Growing up, Edwards idolized hockey legends like Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker, and Kendall Coyne Schofield. Today, she shares a locker room with these very athletes. She once asked them for autographs as a star-struck fan.
"My mom had to do it for me," she recalled with a laugh. "Now I'm going to the Olympics with them. It's crazy."
The Foundation: Family and Early Skates
Her family, especially her father, has been her rock. Edwards grew up in Ohio, learning to skate at the Cleveland Heights rink. Her dad, Robert Edwards, played hockey himself. He put his daughter on skates almost as soon as she could walk.
At three years old, she began with figure skating. However, there was a clear strategy behind this early training. "He was like, 'You're not going into figure skating. It's just to help with hockey,'" she shared.
By age five, she fully committed to hockey and never glanced back. Edwards dedicated herself daily to improving her skating and puck control.
"I've always been told I was a natural with stick handling," she noted. "I put a lot of work into skating. It all came together."
Now, Laila Edwards stands ready for Milan. The little girl who dreamed big is stepping onto Olympic ice. She aims not only to play but to inspire a new generation of athletes.
